Contributed by: EastBayJackEastBayJack(others by this writer | submit your own)Published on May 28th 2002I bought this album for $8.99 new on vinyl and it's easily the best nine-something dollars I ever spent. What can really be said for a band that's been putting out records for nearly 2 decades? Not much, unless you're partial, like me. I don't often like to discard a band's later work in favor of.

I bought this album for $8.99 new on vinyl and it's easily the best nine-something dollars I ever spent. What can really be said for a band that's been putting out records for nearly 2 decades? Not much, unless you're partial, like me. I don't often like to discard a band's later work in favor of exaulting their "good old days." And in the case of Social Distortion, doing so would be a statement that isn't generally favored by the majority of fans. It surprises me that Social D's later work is more popular in spite of this album's existence.

After one listen, one gets the feeling in the early days Mike Ness was a great deal less serious. The Mike Ness of today is a punk purist's nightmare, advertising various frivolous pieces of merchandise up for auction on ebay, and charging $25 to get into a show. Mainliner reflects the Social Distortion before all of this. An invaluable compilation which includes all of the rare singles, it spares nothing, including both the Posh Boy and 13th Floor Records' versions of "1945."

The entire album is a series of explosive songs, combining the droning melodies of L.A. punk with traditional rock and roll riffs; the latter which has become such an essential component in Social Distortion in the last ten years, the former which is hardly traceable anymore.

All in all, this album is a product of an essentially different band, and is a worthy purchase for any fan of Social Distortion and/or old school punk.

a friend of mine has seen them play 6 times and he said at every show mike threatens to beat up some asshole in the audience.

check out mike ness' solo cds. they are not "punk", but well worth the $15.00.

Anonymous (May 29, 2002)

Social D was one of the first bands I got into, and Mike Ness is the king. For the kids who think he isn't, Fuck You!!! Anybody who stops playing in the middle of a show (Philly '96) to jump in the crowd and beat down a fatass skinhead for taking cheapshots & blindsiding people in the pit is the king.

to the post below: i'm pretty sure he wasn't bashing Mike Ness, he was just saying he's not your average punk.

Anonymous (May 28, 2002)

"The Mike Ness of today is a punk purist's nightmare, advertising various frivolous pieces of merchandise up for auction on ebay, and charging $25 to get into a show."
FUCK OFF! Mike Ness is GOD! and Social D is the best punk band ever! Go listen to some get up shits songs yu dumb kid. Someday u will understand what Mike Ness sing and how perfect it is. Grow up!

Anonymous (May 28, 2002)

this is their worst release and mike ness is allowed to charge $25 for their shows because they are worth it and they have the market cornered. there are no other bands that offer what social d offer. he can sell nudie mags form teh 50s on e-bay because he's the only one out there cool enough to have em. anyway i don't think many people over 14 yrs old favore social distortions old stuff to their early/mid 90s stuff. social distortion will always be a country rock band and thats what they are appreciated for punk for the sake of it fans will never like them and neither will pop punk kids.

Anonymous (May 28, 2002)

I love Social D more than life itself, but this is the only SD CD I don't love. The songs just sound juvenile and uninteresting. I hear lots of people talk trash on SD's post-1983 material, mostly because it isn't "punk," and according to them, stuff that isn't punk isn't good. Mike Ness and co play the music they love regardless of what other people think, and that's the most punk thing you can do. If you listen to Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell, s/t, Prison Bound or White Light..., you'll see a man baring his soul with the most incredible music back ing it. Mike is 40 now, why would he keep playing the music he played when he was 20? Anyways, this is much less good than SD's other punk CD, Mommy's Little Monster. If you want punk, check that out. They were obviously young when they made this CD. It just sounds juvenile. Make it the last SD CD you buy.

Anonymous (May 28, 2002)

social d could put out a cd where they bang pots and pans together for 45 minutes and it would be better than most of the stuff i have heard in the last two years.

Anonymous (May 28, 2002)

You really cant go wrong with Prison Bound or Mommy's little Monster. Other than that, go for the S/T or Between heaven and hell which are a little more subdued but just as catchy.

Anonymous (May 28, 2002)

i own one Social D CD. it's Live at the Roxy, and it's one of the best CDs i own. i really need to get more of their stuff. What's their best regular album? anyone know?